The Value of Work

By Jerrie Barber
    Working is a part of God’s plan for man’s fulfillment and happiness.  After creating the world and making man of the dust, “the LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it” (Gen. 2:15).  Paradise was not then nor is now a place of constant leisure and no responsibilities.
    Whether we are thinking of work by which we provide a living for our family or a task we do in the Lord’s service, there are some biblical principles that will help us.
1. Find a work suited for you.  Because of background, natural ability, education, experience, and interest, we do some things better than others.  “For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another” (Rom. 12:4-5).
2. Do your best.  Whether we are doing “church work” or whether we are on the job, we are working for the Lord.  “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ” (Col. 3:23-24).
3. Schedule times of rest.  God set the example by resting on the seventh day after creating the world in six.  When the apostles had completed some work and reported to Jesus the results, Jesus said, “Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while” (Mark 6:31).
4. Be training others to do your work.  It is no compliment to anyone’s effectiveness and leadership for any work to show a decline after he or she moves, is promoted, or retires.  Paul gave the principle to Timothy when he wrote, “And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also” (2 Tim 2:2).
5. Prepare for work in the future that will call for growth.  The challenging task of an elder is being addressed when Paul wrote to Timothy, “If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work” (1 Tim. 3:1).
    Work is designed by the Lord to be a blessing - not a curse.  How do you plan to be blessed in your work?
“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10).

- Jerrie Barber; via the weekly bulletin of the Harrisburg church of Christ in Harrisburg, IL.  You may visit their website at http://www.harrisburgchurchofchrist.org